The color is a measure for the amount of caretenoids and chlorophyll in the lipid extract.

Seaweed is considered high in protein for being a plant based material. However, the cell walls are polysaccharide-rich and very tough. Thus, the proteins need to be separated from the seaweed matrix before further use.

PhD-student Hanna Harrysson is preparing an extraction of proteins using the pH-shift method. This is a novel method, with alkaline protein solubilization followed by isoelectric precipitation.

The protein content in the produced protein extracts is analyzed with the Lowry-method. The more intense the blue colour is the more proteins did the extract contain.